Klarinet Archive - Posting 000098.txt from 2004/02
From: "Buckman, Nancy" <nebuckman@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] re: C Clarinet
Date: Mon, 9 Feb 2004 17:11:40 -0500
Hi Forest,
First of, let me say that I realize that Morrie's stuff isn't for =
everybody. But I am not speaking of just the bells and barrels here. I =
watched as he would take clarinets that people had just had to the shop =
or that they THOUGHT worked just fine, and within minutes would show the =
owner as little as 20% and as much as an 80% leakage in the instrument =
of their choice. There were so many things that he was able to fix in a =
matter of minutes, it would make your head spin. And from what I =
witnessed these weren't mad scientist adjustments. They were little =
things that he would do (some of which require an experienced repair =
touch) to insure that thee weren't leaks.
His bells didn't cost $800 dollars either. They aren't cheap though and =
if they were a minor detail, I don't think all these professional people =
would be streaming in the door to try them. Let's face it, I had to =
take time off from my regular job and go to New York ( @-----.). =
Most, but not all, of the people who visited came from somewhere other =
than NYC. I am not seeking perfect here, but as I said to Morrie, I =
dream of the day when someone takes it upon himself to make a clarinet =
from top to bottom out of plastic with correctly cut tone holes; with =
good quality pads; bells and barrels that enhance, rather than detract =
from the playability of the instrument; good quality mouthpieces, caps, =
ligatures and a neck strap; and adjustable thumb rest that will accept a =
strap; quality keywork that doesn't rattle; accessories that are of good =
quality (especially the swab); and a quality case.
You say you have played Backun bells, but have you sat down with Morrie =
and played bells. And after the bell issue is settled, you need to =
select a complementing barrel. Again, I realize that not everyone can =
or wants to do this, but it doesn't change the fact that every person I =
saw sit and play his equipment, in his presence, liked the changes that =
were so evident to even me (a nobody in the clarinet world, really). I =
bought bells and barrels from Morrie last summer and I must say that =
after sitting with him and listening to the changes as HE selected the =
equipment for the pros, makes me want to have my own private session =
with him. Playing a few barrels and/or bells "a couple of times" won't =
get the results I'm speaking of. A half hour in Morrie's company, to =
let him hear you play your equipment and then let him choose for you =
from his stock might just raise your eyebrows a little.
The other thing that I watched was a repairman from the other side of =
the continent, spend a day flying and then stay up half the night every =
night, with a fraction of his tools and equipment, fix things that most =
repairmen never even knew needed fixing, for people who just kept on =
coming through his door. If the repair person had known how, Morrie =
wouldn't have had to fix those problems, again, in some cases .
I spent a week watching clarinetists, well-known and unknown alike, =
parade through his suite for hours on end. At one point there were =
three techs and seven clarinetists trying his stuff while he went from =
one to the other helping them to get exactly what they wanted for their =
own ears to hear. They were literally tripping over each other and piles =
of clarinets It was truly like watching a magician at work holding a =
clarinet with nothing special to say about itself one minute and a few =
minutes later sounding just lovely later. And the little things that =
the player didn't like were fixed with a twist or pop here and a tweak =
there. I have watched many times while techs attempt to voice clarinets =
and I can tell you, I personally have never seen anyone to it better or =
quicker. When someone can satisfy so many different big names, there is =
something they know that the rest of the world doesn't.
I am not Jon Manasse or Ricardo Morales or any of the other top =
orchestra players who walked in and sat for Morrie in front of my eyes, =
but that doesn't keep me from wanting to sound like them. I may not =
have their technical ability, but if a few changes to an instrument =
and/or its parts can make me sound more like them, I'm all for it. If =
Morrie can satisfy such a diverse group of professional players, he =
knows something that the rest of the clarinet world doesn't. Audrey =
Travis did me a big favor by dragging me to Morrie's booth and I plan on =
passing along all the knowledge that I have gleaned, from Morrie, his =
staff and his products in the past nine months, to my students and any =
one else who will listen. =20
Morrie's generosity and willingness to help anyone who comes to him can =
do nothing but improve an individual's playing ability and the quality =
of the finished clarinet product as it is distributed to the public by =
the makers. Check out the Hanson clarinets. I tried one of them =
recently and was impressed with the overall quality of the instrument =
and the commitment to the success of the students who will play them. =
They are the most complete clarinet outfits on the market right now =
because someone has started to realize that there is a good market for =
quality instruments for students. =20
I think in the near future someone will start either adding Morrie's =
products or his technology to student instruments and I'll be right =
there to cheer them on. I understand what you say about picking and =
choosing wisely, but picking and choosing wisely did not eliminate the =
problems that these top professionals were complaining about. Until =
such time as the production companies find it necessary to complete the =
process of making an instrument that needs only minor adjustment at the =
time of purchase (like a good oboe or flute), I will look to people like =
Morrie to help me and my students sound their best.
Nancy
Nancy E. Buckman, CPO, AFO, Technical Assistant
School of Health Professions, Wellness and Physical Education
Anne Arundel Community College
Arnold, MD 21012-1895 USA
Phone 410-777-2316 Fax 410-777-2233
E-mail nebuckman@-----.edu
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